“I knew the model was good. I knew that connection between the donor and the recipient was important,” Ms Wright said.

“What I didn’t know was whether people would want to be part of the donation process.”

Eight years later, GIVIT supports 1860 charities across the country, from the Pilbara to Woolloongabba, and has helped more than 280,000 donations reach people in need this year.

“That is what happens when you direct people to real need,” Ms Wright said.

More than 280,00 donations reached people in need this year through GIVIT. (Supplied)

The website works as a “match-maker”, whereby charities can request specific items needed by their clients.
Donors can also list the items they wish to donate on the site's virtual database, which can be picked up by local charities.

“You may have been given a new phone this Christmas. What are you going to do with your old one?” Ms Wright said.

“There are six charities requesting mobile phones at the moment so they can keep in contact with a person who is homeless.

“Simple things can make a massive difference to people’s lives, and this doesn’t stop because Christmas Day has happened.”

GIVIT staff working with the Starlight Children's Foundation at Ronald McDonald House in Perth. (GIVIT / Facebook) (Givit / Facebook)

In 2011, GIVIT was endorsed by the Queensland state government as an official website to make donations during Brisbane floods in 2011.

More than 1.8 million hits saw 33,500 goods matched over three weeks.

In 2015, Ms Wright was named Australia’s Local Hero as part of the Australian of the Year awards for her efforts.